Options abound for chronic wounds

A. Wound healing begins after an injury. The process is complex and requires treatments to ensure proper healing. At Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hospital, 97 percent of sores treated are healed in 12 to 16 weeks.

Q. What are causes of chronic wounds?

A. Diabetes, immobilization, chronic swelling and circulatory problems are the most common causes of chronic, non-healing wounds. Other chronic wounds are the result of traumatic injury, non-healing surgical scars and a variety of other diseases that affect the skin.

Q. What are treatment options for wound healing?

A. Treatment options for wound healing include debridements, dressings and wraps, bio-engineered tissue substitutes, antibiotic therapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Debridements are used in conjunction with other treatment to facilitate healing by removing damaged necrotic tissue that impedes healing. Dressings and wraps include compression stockings that promote naturally occurring tissue growth. Bio-engineered tissue substitutes are materials made in a laboratory used to cover open wounds. These materials reduce bacterial build up, reduce pain and achieve proper moisture balance within the wound. Antibiotic therapy is used to heal infected wounds.

Q. What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)?

A. IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital offers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO). This therapy is an essential part of some chronic wound treatments. HBO therapy is recommended for patients who have lower extremity or foot ulcers and meet the criteria for HBO. It is also used for infections, radiation injuries, and compromised or failing skin grafts or flaps.

Patients enter the Hyperbaric Oxygen chamber and breathe 100 percent oxygen at higher than normal pressure. This treatment increases the amount of oxygen in the tissue and allows oxygen to pass more easily through the tissue into the wounds to heal them. The treatment lasts for about two hours and the number of treatments differs for each person. On average, chronic wound treatments are usually done once a day, Monday through Friday, for 20 to 40 sessions.

Usually, the only sensation patients experience is pressure on their eardrums similar to the feeling of landing in an airplane. IU Health Ball Memorial Wound Healing Services has strict procedures to ensure safety and comfort during procedures, and each patient is given an orientation before the first treatment.

The chamber is equipped with a TV so patients can watch TV or a movie during treatment. Patients can also rest and nap during treatments, but outside items such as books or magazines are not allowed in the chamber.

Q. How do I seek treatment?

A. If you have a wound that hasn't healed in four weeks, you should consult your physician or contact IU Health Ball Memorial Wound Healing Services. A physician in the Wound Healing Center can evaluate your wound and develop an appropriate treatment plan.